iPad 3 rumors recap so far: retina display, 4G LTE, release date and more

Apple to launch iPad Mini

One story that captivated Apple fans in 2011 concerned the iPad Mini.

Besides the highly anticipated iPad 3, reports speculated that Apple is likely to launch a mini iPad in late 2012.

Tech sites reported that the mini version will sport a 7.85-inch screen and that it will complement the current 9.7-inch model.

However, analysts have dismissed the rumor and even Steve Jobs was quoted as saying that such a screen size would be “too small to express the software,” according to AppleInsider.

iPad 3 will feature a quad-core A6 processor

While previous iPad models featured single-core A4 and dual-core A5 processors, the third-generation iPad will likely be powered by a new CPU, a quad-core processor called the A6.

Since Samsung was responsible for building the A4 and A5, many assume that the processor for the iPad 3 will come from the same manufacturer, despite reports saying that the gadget could be produced in in Austin, Texas.

Will the iPad 3 arrive in February?

Rumors circulated on the net ahead of Christmas saying the next iPad will be offered on February 24, the day that Steve Jobs would celebrate his 57th birthday.

However, speculation didn’t stop here.

Based on Apple’s past iPad release dates, which saw the first model launch on April 3, 2010, and the second one on March 11, 2011, various tech sites reported that the device could actually come out a bit later, specifically in March.

iPad 3 will have retina display

Another highly anticipated characteristic of the tablet is the new “retina” display, rumored to run at a 2048×1536 resolution.

That would make it almost double of what the first two iPads offer, more precisely 22048×1536 pixels with a 326 dpi.

Tablet-sized QXGA-resolution (2048×1536 pixels) touchscreen panels with a pixel density of 264ppi are currently in production.